You may wonder how Instant Pot and Crock-Pot differ and whether one is better than the other. In order to help you choose, this article provides a comprehensive review of the Instant Pot and Crock-Pot.
Instant Pot and Crock-Pot Basic
Crock-Pot basics
One of the first slow cookers for home use was introduced in the 1970s by Crock-Pot. Although the brand now includes multiple types of cookers, its original design was for slow cooking. In a slow cooker, like the original Crock-Pot, meals are simmered at a set temperature for a long period of time. In addition to selling slow cookers today, Crock-Pot has also introduced pressure cooker and multi-cooker products.
Here’s how the types of cookers differ:
- Slow cookers. Food remains at normal pressure levels while being cooked at a steady temperature over an extended period.
- Pressure cookers. A higher-than-normal pressure allows food to heat and cook more rapidly as long as the lid isn’t removed during the process.
- Multi-cookers. Food may be cooked using a variety of techniques, such as sautéing, steaming, roasting, and baking, as well as slow, pressure, and sous vide cooking.
While Crock-Pot doesn’t carry standalone air fryers or rice cookers, its slow cookers can be used to cook rice. The company also sells a crisping lid for its multi-cookers that works as an air fryer.
Instant Pot and Crock-Pot: Instant Pot basics
The Instant Pot brand was launched in 2010. Crock-Pot sells a variety of cookers, including multi-cookers, pressure cookers, rice cookers, and air fryers. There are more types of Instant Pot cookers than Crock-Pot. Its unique products are:
- Rice cookers. This appliance is specifically designed to perfectly boil or steam rice and other grains like quinoa, barley, and oatmeal.
- Air fryers. This appliance uses convection to circulate hot air quickly and continually, resulting in a crisp outer layer on the food.
- Unlike Crock-Pot, Instant Pot doesn’t currently sell a standalone slow cooker though their multi-cookers do have slow cooker features
- Crock-Pot and Instant Pot are two brands that manufacture various countertop cooking devices, such as slow cookers, pressure cookers, multi-cookers, and air fryers.
Although the Crock-Pot and Instant Pot brands have many similarities, one brand might be a better choice for you depending on what foods you want to cook and how.
Here are some of the most popular cookers sorted by brand.
Instant Pot and Crock-Pot Cookers
Crock-Pot cookers
Best Slow Cooker: Cook & Carry Slow Cooker (6 quarts)
If you’re looking for a slow cooker you can easily pack up and take with you, the Cook & Carry slow cooker is perfect.
7-person pressure cooker with 6 quarts capacity (5.7 liters), programmable digital timer. The cooker has 3 handles and a locking lid with an airtight seal to ensure your meal won’t splash out or spill during your travels ( Still, the appliance must be plugged into an electrical outlet to continue warming. The insulated, sealed crock will keep food warm for some time while unplugged, but without an electrical outlet, you won’t be able to reheat your meal once arriving at your destination.
A slow cooker like the Cook & Carry also limits the types of meals you can prepare. Since liquid or water is necessary to create heat and steam in a slow cooker, you’ll need to choose a recipe that includes liquid.
Be aware that it takes an average of 4–8 hours to prepare a meal in a slow cooker.
Best Pressure Cooker: Express Crock Easy Release (10 quarts)
This pressure cooker boasts all of the perks of a slow cooker and more. In addition to prepping slow cooker recipes that need liquid, you can use the sautéing and searing functions to make dishes that don’t need any liquid.
The Express Easy Release has more than 14 programmable, built-in settings that allow a variety of cooking techniques, including slow cooking and pressure cooking. You can even sterilize utensils and baby bottles in this cooker ( The lid is equipped with a steam-release dial so that you can easily and safely release steam from the cooker before opening the lid.
Although this cooker could be packed up for travel, it’s not specifically designed to carry pre-prepped meals.
Best multi-cooker: Express Crock with Crisping Lid (8 quarts)
This cooker is very similar to the Express Crock Easy Release, offering many of the same programmable settings, shapes, and sizes.
What sets this cooker apart as the best multi-cooker is its accompanying crisping lid. You can use this lid as an air fryer to add a crisp texture to meats, vegetables, and many other dishes ( Like numerous other Crock-Pot cookers, the interior cooking pot is non-stick and dishwasher-safe.
Instant Pot cookers
Best Multi-cooker for Beginners: Duo Nova (6 quarts)
The Instant Pot Duo Nova is arguably one of the most popular Instant Pot products. This cooker not only contains an automatically sealing pressure valve but also a convenient steam-release button. Looking for best instant pot pressure cooker? we have compiled some reviews you can use as reference.
- food warmer
- slow cooker
- pressure cooker
- rice cooker
- sauté pan
- steamer
Best Overall Multi-cooker: Duo Evo Plus (8 quarts)
the Duo Evo Plus includes multiple cooking functions.
In addition to the Duo Nova’s seven settings, the Duo Evo Plus can be used as a stockpot and cake maker, as well as for sous vide cooking ( Sous vide is a French cooking technique in which food is placed into a plastic bag or glass container, then cooked in a low temperature water bath for 1–8 hours.
The Duo Evo Plus features a large LCD display that tracks the cooking time, plus temperature and pressure within the cooker.
Most versatile multi-cooker: Duo Crisp + Air Fryer (8 quarts)
Price: $$$ If you’re looking for a cooker that can replace as many kitchen appliances as possible, the Duo Crisp + Air Fryer may be the perfect choice.
The main wet cooking lid that comes with the cooker is great for slow cooking, pressure cooking, steaming, boiling, and sous vide cooking. A second dry cooking lid transforms the unit into an air fryer. This lid can also be used to bake, broil, roast, and dehydrate ( Shop for the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer (8 quarts) online.
Crock-Pot and Instant Pot offer cookers with various functions, though they’re best known for slow cooking and pressure cooking. Based on your needs, you may prefer one brand over another.
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